YESTERDAY’S NEWS. THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3092, 16 January 1873, Page 3

YESTERDAY’S NEWS. THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

The management at the Princess’ have certainly redeemed their pledge to the public to the fullest extent, by the style in which “Formosa ” was put on the boards last evening. The whole play is bristling with sensational positions, affording ample scope for scenic display and mechanical effect, and right well .Ur Willis has succeeded. Most of the scenery was specially painted, and exhibits much labor, resulting in the production of some of the prettiest scenery we have seen in this ci y. The scenes representing York Place, London, and the Thames, near Putney, deserve special mention. They excited much admiration, and the artist was enthusiastically called before the curtain twice. The dialogue of the drama is pointed and good. The opening scene is in Oxford, where a retired pugilist, named Sam Boker, (Mr Musgrave) keeps a publichpnse icnnc-i the old Swan Boat nouse, Tom Burroughs, (Mr nuugias; a graduate and stroke of the Oxford crew, is enamoured of Jenny, the pretty daughter of Boker, but at the same time lie is attached to Nelly (Mrs Hill), who is recognised as the niece of his tutor, Dr Doremus (Mr Clinton). After a while Tom breaks his connection with Nelly, and yields himself up to the seductions of fast London life. Boker and wife (Miss Matthews) temporarily leave Oxford, and Jenny disappears from the scene. Meanwhile two betting men, named Major Jorum (Mr Hoskins) and Compton Kerr (Mr Booth), anxious to secure a victory for the Cambridge crew, resolve to deprive the Oxford crew of their stroke oar. The former find Jenny, under the guise of Formosa, and threaten fp expose her criminal mo/le of life and place of abode to her parents if she did not join them in their schemes. She yields, and the first act closes with tho discovery that Nelly is not the niece of Dr Doremus, but daughter of Bob Saunders (Mr Hill), a returned convict and dog fancier. In the second act, Jorum and Kerr manage to swindle Tom Burroughs out of large sums of money while playing “baccarat”’at the house of Formosa, and and at the same time forge 1.0.U.’s in his name for large amounts. About this time Boker and wife being anxious about Jenny, came up to Loudon in search of her, and met Bob Saunders and Nelly, when it is disclosed that Jorum and companion have matured their plans and arranged for the arrest of Tom Burroughs on the eve of the boat race. Nelly resolves on his rescue, and proceeds to the house of Formosa, in company with Mr and Mrs Boker. Here the most striking situation of the piece is presented. While Tom is being warned of his danger, Formosa enters the boudoir, and finding Nelly alone with Tom, vents her jealousy in passionate terms. Her parents suddenly enter, and overwhelmed with shame and grief, she falls prostrate, wlulo Tom is arrested. She endeavours, however, to atono for the past by placing her jewellery in the hands of her friend Spooner (Mr Inglis), and requesting him to turn them into cash, and apply the proceeds to obtaining Tom’s release. Forgiven by her parents, she determines to lead a better life, and retires to tho home of her childhood. In the last act Tom is rescued from the prison by Boker, a mob, and the Oxford and Cambridge crews, pulls in the race, and wins. Tho forged 1.0.U.’s are discovered, and Jorum and Kenare arrested, It is arranged that Tom shall marry Nelly, while his faithful friend Lord Eden (Mr Douglas) shall have his sister Edith (Miss Willis). The curtain falls suddenly on the boat race scene, while the crews and their friends are rejoicing over the event of the day. Throughout tile performance the interest of the audience was sustained, and frequently evinced by loud and prolonged applause. Miss Colville won golden opinions by her forcible and pathetic acting, and the house rewarded her with repeated approbation, Airs Walter Hill’s render ing of tho ardent, warm-hearted, truthful Nelly, proved that if she is not a great actress, she is undoubtedly a good one. Mr Hoskins gave a vigorous impersonation of the wily, plotting man of the world, that will not easily be foi gotten ; while Air Douglas’s delineation of the nobleman who has valor, grit, and truthfulness in him, was a perfect conception. Air Collier is deserving of praise for his personation of the University graduate, by lifting from it in a great measure the charge of physical cowardice and effeminacy usually made by a certain class of people. As Kerr, Air Booth displayed a degree of skill and judgment, for which we have m»t hitherto given him credit, while Air Alusgrave gave us another illustration of his peculiar talent, of which wo hope to see more. The part allotted to Aliss Bushe, though small, was effectively rendered. The rest of the cast, witli the exception of one lady who seemed somewhat indisposed, wai strong, everyone appearing at home in his part and reading it correctly. There was not a hitch in the performance, and there can be little doubt but that the drama will have a prosperous run. The pit and stalls were crowded, but the drcss-circlc was not so well attended.